User-friendly alternative to Access?

[Skarmander]

As much as I've cursed Access in the past working for people who needed a
professional RDBMS but didn't want one, I now find myself paradoxically in
need of Access.

I need basic database functionality for personal data management -- we're
talking importing CSVs and running a few queries on them, creating some new
tables with data. No fancy graphs or reporting facilities required, really;
just some basic data manipulation.

Sounds like the perfect job for Access, don't it? Unfortunately, I don't
have access to an Office installation anymore, and last time I checked they
weren't giving away free copies. Ironically I do have a copy of MS SQL
Express... but no front-end. It's not just overkill, it's overkill without
an interface.

I tried OpenOffice, but its database component falls far short of anything
resembling the ease of use of Access. It tries, but I need to jump through
way too much hoops to get anything done. You don't want to know how much
trouble you have to go through to get a slightly unconventional date field
to import.

Basically, is there any good alternative to the front-end part of Access?
The main selling point of Access has always been that you can slap together
a basic database app with a few clicks and wizards, importing data from just
about anywhere. I find myself in need of something more advanced than the
rudimentary tools you get with most RDBMSes but not as overblown as a custom
app. If anyone has experience with something along these lines, I'd like to
know.

S.

 

[Skarmander]

Joseph Meehan wrote:

I am not al all sure what your needs are. Have you tried the database
that is part of MS Works?

Let's rephrase: anything resembling the Access frontend that's free as in
free beer?

Works still costs $50, if I am to believe the Microsoft product site
(http://www.microsoft.com/products/works/default.mspx), and I in fact do not
have any experience with its database functionality. (Wasn't aware it had
any, by the way.) The suite costs $100 and that too has no indication that
it even has a database. Is it hidden in the components somewhere?

I know SQL and I'm not afraid to use it. I'm a developer, basically, but a
LAZY developer. I do not feel like getting crazy with scripts or hacking
custom GUIs together for some basic import & transformation tasks. I know
I'm asking for a free lunch, I was just wondering if there was any to have.

S.

 

[Charlie Hoffpauir]

Joseph Meehan wrote:

I'm not familiar with the Works database, but you can get old versions
of Works and Works Suite really cheap (but not free) if you can live
with an OEM license.

See here:
http://www.directdeals.com/category-works-and-workssuite.aspx

and for an old version of Office Pro:
http://www.directdeals.com/category-office-97-and-earlier.aspx
Charlie Hoffpauir
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~charlieh/

 

[saelwood]

As much as I've cursed Access in the past working for people who needed a
professional RDBMS but didn't want one, I now find myself paradoxically in
need of Access.

I need basic database functionality for personal data management -- we're
talking importing CSVs and running a few queries on them, creating some new
tables with data. No fancy graphs or reporting facilities required, really;
just some basic data manipulation.

Sounds like the perfect job for Access, don't it? Unfortunately, I don't
have access to an Office installation anymore, and last time I checked they
weren't giving away free copies. Ironically I do have a copy of MS SQL
Express... but no front-end. It's not just overkill, it's overkill without
an interface.

I tried OpenOffice, but its database component falls far short of anything
resembling the ease of use of Access. It tries, but I need to jump through
way too much hoops to get anything done. You don't want to know how much
trouble you have to go through to get a slightly unconventional date field
to import.

Basically, is there any good alternative to the front-end part of Access?
The main selling point of Access has always been that you can slap together
a basic database app with a few clicks and wizards, importing data from just
about anywhere. I find myself in need of something more advanced than the
rudimentary tools you get with most RDBMSes but not as overblown as a custom
app. If anyone has experience with something along these lines, I'd like to
know.

S.

 

[saelwood]

Trying this again:

Have you tried Epi Info?

http://www.cdc.gov/epiinfo/

It may not be what you need, but it is free and it might work.